Provincial Blog

Welcome to the Provincial Blog.

Here, we feature posts by our Friars and by other contributors from the Carmelite family. Our goal is to provide you with content relevant to Carmelite spirituality and life in the Province of St. Therese.To learn more about the people behind this blog, visit the About Blog Central page.To post a comment, just click on the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post or you can send us an email to let us know what you think.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Readings:1st Reading: Acts 6:1-7Resp. Psalm Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-192nd Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-9 Gospel: John 14:1-12 Given the lack of belief among the Apostles it is understandable that Jesus would reassure the people that He has a place awaiting them in Heaven if they listen to Him and do their best. It is never God's

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Readings: 1st Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14 Resp. Psalm Psalm 130: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 2nd Reading: Romans 8:8-11 Gospel: John 11:1-45We can and should always put our trust in the Lord. He will never let us down. We may never be able to fully understand why He does the things He does but the Scriptures do tell us that God brings good out of everything that happens for those who love

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Image by PublicDomainPictures from PixabayReadings:1st Reading: Isaiah 8:23- 9:3Resp. Psalm Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-142nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23If Jesus is truly our Lord then there can be no division in our hearts or among Christians. While in another place in the Scriptures Jesus said that He came to bring a sword for division, that was for those who choose not to serve

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Image by Gerd Altmann from PixabayReadings: 1st Reading: Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14 Resp. Psalm Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 9, 15 2nd Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 Gospel: Luke 20:27-38 As we get closer to the end of the liturgical year, the Church reminds us of the end of our lives. This is why we have the Solemnity of All Saints Day and All Souls Day and also begin to hear about the next

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Image by Gerd Altmann from PixabayReadings:1st Reading: Amos 8:4-7Resp. Psalm Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-82nd Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-8Gospel: Luke 16:1-13Some people do not understand the Gospel reading about the dishonest steward. Jesus is not telling us to lie or to steal as the dishonest steward did. He is pointing out that the tools or the lengths he went through to ensure that he would

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Image by kamal dharshan from PixabayReadings:1st Reading: Wisdom 18:6-9Resp. Psalm Psalm 33: 1, 12, 18-19, 20-222nd Reading: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19Gospel: Luke 12:32-48Today's readings have to do with how we can be blessed. It may not seem apparent at first in the Gospel but a warning is a sign of compassion. If you do this you may end up in a worse state than

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Image by Gerd Altmann from PixabayReadings:1st Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23Resp. Psalm Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 172nd Reading: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11Gospel: Luke 12:13-21The theme of this Sunday's reading is clear: live for God and for Heaven. The things of the earth are passing.In the first reading Qoheleth tells us that all things are vanity.

Corpus Christi Sunday

Image by James Chan from PixabayReadings:1st Reading: Genesis 14:18-20Resp. Psalm Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 42nd Reading: 1st Corinthians 11:23-26Gospel: Luke 9:11b-17The Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is very important because this is how Jesus chooses to sustain and nourish us spiritually and physically. Our bodies taste bread and wine but our spirits taste the Living God.

Easter Sunday

Readings: 1st Reading: Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Resp. Psalm Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-232nd Reading: Colossians 3:1-4 Gospel: John 20:1-9 Alleluia! The Lord has risen! After the penances during the Lenten season we can rejoice along with the rest of the Church and live even more deeply the depth of the Paschal Mystery.There are 4 qualities to the glorified body which Jesus has and which

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:1st Reading: Numbers 11:25-29Resp.: Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14 (9a)2nd Reading: James 5:1-6Gospel: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 This Sunday's readings remind us that we live for the next world, not for this one. What does it matter if we don't have things in our lives the way we would prefer? If we suffer these losses for the sake of God's Kingdom, that is,

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Readings:1st Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-­34 Responsorial: Psalm 51:3-­4, 12­-13, 14­-152nd Reading: Hebrews 5:7-­9Gospel: John 12:20­-33Jesus goes before us to show us the way. He told his disciples about the grain of wheat that must die if it is to bear much fruit. But why do we have to die? Because of the Sin of Adam and Eve. So Jesus takes us to a new level – if

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Readings:1st Reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14­-16, 19­-23 Responsorial: Psalm 137:1­-2, 3, 4­-5, 62nd Reading: Ephesians 2:4­1-0Gospel: John 3:14­-21 Jesus wants us to know that he came to sacrifice himself for all of us. St Paul tells us that even when we were dead in our transgressions, our sins, Jesus's sacrifice was ours for the taking. This is why in today's Gospel, John

Third Sunday of Lent

Readings:1st Reading: Exodus 20:1­17 Responsorial: 19:8, 9, 10, 112nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:22­25 Gospel: John 2:13­25God has perfect timing. The Israelites were not given the Ten Commandments until the right time. If God is truly God, then everything about Him is perfect. We unfortunately tend not to see this because of our sinfulness. God asks

Second Sunday of Lent Sunday of Lent

Readings:1st Reading: Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 Responsorial: 116: 10, 15, 16-17, 18-19 2nd Reading: Romans 8:31b-34 Gospel: Mark 9:2-10The inner circle of Apostles, Peter James and John went up the mountain with Jesus where Jesus was transfigured. Jesus's appearance changed to what He is, light – the Light of the world. What we are called to on this earth is